Catholic Education Week 2014

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK 2014

In Catholic schools across Ontario, May 5-9 was Catholic Education Week.  In the Ottawa Catholic School Board, there were a variety of system-wide and school events that reflected a multitude of student successes and our commitment to Gospel values.

For me, the week began at St. Cecilia, our new elementary school.  There, on Monday morning
May 5, before an enthusiastic student body, the school logo was unveiled.

The student and parent-designed logo is unique and meaningful.  The logo features a treble clef, since St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music.  Along with the treble clef, there a is a crucifix and the the letter "C".

St. Cecilia School Logo

On Tuesday, May 6, I attended an assembly at St. Emily at which the students and staff celebrated their amazing social justice initiative whereby they raised $10,000 to enable Free The Children to build a school in a developing country.  The grade 4 students raised the the most money, and were rewarded for their efforts with a pizza lunch.  They also were given the privilege of selecting the country in which the school will be built.  

A proud moment - $10,000 cheque from St. Emily community
for Free The Children 

Tuesday night, hundreds of Ottawa Catholic educators gathered at Notre Dame Cathedral for the annual Catholic Education Week mass and awarding of the Director of Education Commendations. The mass was celebrated by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast.  Following mass, 26 exceptional contributors to Catholic education, who had been selected by their peers, received their awards from Director of Education, Mr. Julian Hanlon. 

Director of Education & Archbishop Prendergast  with recipients
of Director of Education Commendation Awards

Use this link to watch a brief feature on the Catholic Education Week mass.

  Catholic Education Week Mass

On the morning of Wednesday, May 7, the first ever province-wide mass was celebrated in all Catholic high schools across Ontario.  The province-wide mass was the idea of the Ontario Student Trustees' Association's Catholic Board Council and featured a special message from Pope Francis, through the Vatican Secretary of State.  Click on the link to view the statement:

Pope Francis' Message

Pictures from the Province-wide Mass at St. Francis Xavier High School

On Wednesday, I also enjoyed a great assembly at St. Luke (Nepean).  The cast from the school's play "Annie" performed a medley of songs.  As well, students involved in a lunch-time drumming program performed.   Continuing with a focus on the performing arts, I attended the "Evening of The Arts" at St. Francis Xavier High School.  Among the fabulous student performers was the acapela women's group 'Noteworthy'.  There was also an imaginative Kabuki theatre presentation of "Saint Narukami and The God Fudo". 

Without a doubt, Thursday, May 8 was my busiest day during Catholic Education, as I visited 5 different schools.  At both St. Andrew and St.Bernard, I went back to my roots as a language arts teacher and visited primary classes to read to the students.   At St. Andrew, I read to two grade 3 classes and was joined by no less than Jim Watson, the Mayor of Ottawa, as a "mystery reader".

St. Andrew Mystery Readers: Superintendent Peter Atkinson, Mayor Jim Watson

Councilor Jan Harder, & Trustee Alison Baizana

At St. Bernard, I read Roch Carrier's "The Hockey Sweater" to an enthusiastic grade 2 class.  Many teachers (and the principal as well) dressed up as their favourite author.

with Principal Richard Chaplinsky & VP Joan Berry
at St. Bernard for Guest Reader Day

Yours Truly reading 'The Hockey Sweater' to St. Bernard students

Other schools I visited on Thursday included Mother Teresa High School, for its annual Open House; St. Patrick's Elementary, for the Shamrock Assembly; and St. Nicholas Adult High School, for the school's annual Education Week barbeque.

St. Nicholas Adult - Catholic Education Week Barbeque
L. to R. Trustee Mark Mullan, VP Bev McKillop, Teacher Richard Bercusen

On Friday, May 9, after a brief visit to Monsignor Paul Baxter School to watch an energetic and wholly inclusive dance-a-thon, I was honoured to serve, for the third straight year, as master-of-ceremonies for the Choral Celebration.  Choirs from 14 elementary schools performed.  The finale involved all 500 children who performed in the Choral Celebration singing Jan Benthan's "Hear Our Prayer" and Michael Jackson's "Heal The World".